Packet dispenser



NOV- 7, 1967 J. F. KOFOEDTAL 3,351,209

PACKET DISPENSER Filed Aug. lO, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS Jc)lf/@7265 BY/tw f7 7? 757677 Nov. 7, 1967 v J. F. KOFOED ETAL PACKETDISPENSER 3 sheets-sheet Filed Aug. lO, 1965 Nov. 7, 1967 J. F. KOFOEDETAL PACKET DISPENSER Filed Aug. lO, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheei 3 United StatesPatent O 3,351,209 PACKET DISPENSER .lack F. Kofoed and Fred F. Tlden,Lynnfield, Mass., assgnors to Diamond Crystal Salt Company Filed Aug.10, 1965, Ser. No. 478,621 2 Claims. (Cl. 211-49) This invention relatesto dispensing means for packets or packaged articles, primarily ofsubstantially flat and elongated or rectangular configuration. Morespecifically, this invention concerns an improved carton an-dcombinations thereof adapted to contain and permit dispensing therefrompackets or packaged articles, associated with food service to humans,such as salt, pepper, napkins, utensils and the like. This inventionalso concerns dispensing means for serving predetermined packagedcondiments, seasonings, and substitutes associated with special diets,including a plurality of cartons containing desired combinations of dietcondiments, seasonings and substitutes.

In the past preparation of special diets for each meal, as for examplefor the patients in a hospital, has involved detailed atttention byinstitutional personnel carrying out dietary programs in the way ofpreparing numerous special diet supplements. Hospital personnel had toinventory salt, pepper, salt substitutes, straws, napkins, etc., on anindividual basis, and place each of these items on a tray before it wassent to the patient. To prepare and disseminate these items for a largenumber of persons on an indivi-dual basis is time consuming andexpensive especially from a personnel standpoint, and it is advantageousto have a relatively simple and uncomplicated dispensing arrangement toaid in the distribution of such diet supplements, with said dispensingarrangement enabling easy preparation of the items by a limited numberof personnel.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide anew dispensing carton for packaged articles.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a newdispensing carton for use in hospitals, schools and other institutionsfor the purpose of providing a readily available, dispensing system forpackaged dietary items for those persons being served.

It is another object of the present invention to provide noveldispensing cartons containing packaged dispensable items which can bereadily set up in an arrangement of several cartons in a compact fashionenabling easy dspensing of the packaged items from any of the cartons.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent on a reading of the following description taken in conjunctionwith the following drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 illustrates a single article dispensing carton embodyingcertain of the features of this invention;

FIGURE 2 illustrates a packet of the type adapted to be dispensed fromthe carton of FIGURE 1, and which package has shown thereonidentification portions similar to indicia carried on the carton whichis to retain it;

FIGURE 3 illustrates several article dispensing cartons supported lbyand held in fixed relationship by a supporting rack;

FIGURE 4 illustrates a single carton of the general 3,351,209 PatentedNov. 7, 1967 type shown in FIGURE l and illustrating a preferred formthereof;

FIGURE 5 illustrates a carton of the general type shown in FIGURE 1having modified, reclosable dispensing aperture means;

FIGURE 6 illustrates another modification of the dispensing aperturemeans on a carton of the general type shown in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 7 illustrates a collapsible carton of the general type shown inFIGURE 1 provi-ding perforate dispensing means positioned in the sideand end surfaces thereof;

FIGURE 8 illustrates an alternative carton arrangement showing two ormore of the cartons attached together to form a group of dispensingcartons by means integral with the sides of the cartons;

FIGURE 9 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention comprising arectangular dispensing carton with a perforated fiap member in the frontthereof through which interior packages can be dispensed when the flapmember is removed;

FIGURE 10 illustrates a dispenser combination cornprising several of thecartons shown in FIGURE 9 mounted ina support rack;

FIGURE ll illustrates a detailed view of a rack for use in the dispensercombination of FIGURE 10; and

FIGURE l2 illustrates another carton embodiment of the invention havingclosable flap means at the top and bottom thereof and a perforatedoblong flap member on one side panel of the carton through which packetscan be dispensed.

Broadly stated this invention comprises dispensing cartons forsubstantially fiat elongated or rectangular packets having a pair ofside panels, a pair of end panels, top and bottom panels, and -adispensing aperture in at least one of the side or end panels, theaperture being located above the plane of the supporting surface of thecart-on to prevent packets contained therein from escaping from theaperture when the carton is positioned on a flat surface. The dispensingaperture, in -all cases, has its lower defining surface spaced upwardlyfrom the plane of the supporting surface of the carton, and may extendthe full width of the end or side surface in which it is positioned, orbe of less width than that surface. The dispensing aperture may beformed by rem-oving a preliminarily formed perforate flap portion inthe-end or side surface of the carton, or in modified forms consists ofa reclosable spout, or a reclosable bellows.

A further modified form of the invention consists of a compositedispenser consisting of a plurality of the cartons of this inventionwhich are held in single unitary relationship by integral meanspositioned on the adjacent surfaces of the plurality of cartons. Anotherform of the invention consists of la combination of the cartons of thisinvention, bearing identification portions in a location immediatelya-bove the dispensing aperture, and a plurality of packets, each ofwhich bears identification portions corresponding to the identificationcarried on the carton side or end surface. The correspondingidentification marking or indicia between the carton and the packetscontained therein may consist of a corresponding color code marking onthe carton exterior and on each of the packets, or it may consist ofcorresponding names on the carton exterior and on each of the packets,or it may be a combination of corresponding color codes and names onboth the carton exterior and the interior packets. In another modifiedform of the invention a plurality of the cartons of this invention aresupported by and retained in a rack adapted to accommodate variablenumbers of the cartons of this invention.

Referring now to the drawings which illustrate the embodiments of thisinvention in greater detail, a typical dispensing carton of thisinvention generally designated 1 is illustrated in FIGURES l and 4.Carton 1 consists of a pair of side surfaces 7, a pair of end su-rfaces15, a top surface formed from a plurality of flaps 2, 3, 4 and 5 and abottom surface, generally `designated 16. Carton 1 functions as adispenser carton by virtue of the preliminary filling of the carton witha sufficient number of substantially at packets of the type shown inFIGURE 2 and designated 6. These packets may contain any desired singleor multiple number of component food supplements including salt, pepper,salt substitutes, sugar substitutes, napkins, straws, forks, knives,etc., and each bears on its surface identification means such as, forexample, a plurality of color code indicia 19. Irrespective of thecomponent contents of the packets 6 they remain of substantially fiatelongated or rectangular form.

The packets 6 are dispensed from carton 1 through the dispensingaperture 13 defined by the edge surfaces resulting from the removal ofthe perforate tear-strip 14 from the end surface 15 of carton 1.Perforate tear-strip 14 is provided with a punch-out tab 25 whichenables the easy insertion of .a piercing member or finger to enable theeasy grasping of the perforate flap and its removal. Aperture 13 has itslower defining surface 17 spaced upwardly from the plane of thesupporting lower surface 16 on which the carton rests.

The height of the lower extremity of aperture 13 from the plane of thesupporting surface 16 may be Varied as a function of the thickness ofthe substantially flat packet 6 to be dispensed therefrom kand for mostu-ses'may vary satisfactorily from about 1/z inch to about 2 inches. Itis necessary, however, to locate aperture 13 in a position spacedupwardly from the plane of the lower supporting surface 16 in order toavoid the undesirable cascading and ejection of a plurality of packetswhen an attempt is made to remove a single packet. It was found thatbecause of the surface friction existing between the adjacent surfacesof the packets 6 there is a tendency for the packets to becomedislocated from their normal position in the carton as dispensingoccurs. The packets become disarranged and tend to extend partiallyoutwardly through the aperture either during or after an attempt is madeto remove one of the packets from the carton. In the absence of aretaining wall 15a, extending upwardly from the bottom surface, thepackets 6 slide out of the aperture 13 in an uncontrollable andundesirable fashion.

The end surface 15 of carton 1 is provided with an identificationmarking 18 which is relatively large and occupies a substantial portionof the total width of the end surface 15. The identification mark 18 asshown is -a circular color code, but it can have any desiredconfiguration as long as its size is maintained sufficiently large toenable it to be readily seen by the user. The

packets 6 bear identification markings 19 Which correv spond to theidentification on the end surface 15 of carton 1, as may be seen on thesurface of the packet 6 which is visible in the aperture 13 in FIGURE l.As stated above, the corresponding identification marking between theexterior of the carton and on each of the individual packets mayconsist, for example, of color codes, corresponding printed matter, or acombination of both of these.

The side surfaces 7 of carton 1 are provided with a plurality ofperforate tab members 8 located adjacent to each of the corners thereof.These tabs are adapted for partial removal to provide a protruding flapmember in the surface of one carton and a receiving aperture in theFIGURE 7 includes an aperture 36 located substantially` correspondingside portion of the other carton to enable a number of cartons to bejoined into a unitary composite form. A number of such cartons 9, 10, 11and 12 are shown in joined relationship in FIGURE 3. The means forjoining a plurality of cartons 1 into a unitary composite arrangement isillustrated in a modified form in FIGURE 8 wherein the side surfaces 7of adjacent cartons 1 are provided with four adhesive pads 24 located ateach of the corners thereof. The adhesive pads 24 may satisfactorilyconsist of a pressure sensitive adhesive provided with a removableprotective cover layer which remains in place until it is desired tojoin a plurality of the cartons together. The cover layers are thenstripped off the adhesive pads on the mating surfaces of the cartons tobe joined together, and with the pads in contact the cartons are pressedtogether until they form a unitary composite dispenser. Any number ofcartons are easily joined in this manner to provide the desired Varietyof packets to be dispensed. The tabs 8, and pad 24 are illustrative onlyof suitable means for joining a plurality of cartons into a singledispenser unit and any number of other means will be apparent to thoseskilled in this art, for example, magnets, metallic fasteners, hooks,external bands or partially complete boxes, etc.

FIGURE 2 shows an individual packaged item or packet 6 suitable forbeing dispensed from a carton such as that shown in FIGURE 1. The packet6 has three color code marks 19 on the top of the packet, which colorcode enables a person to quickly remove and compare the selectedpackaged item with the contents of the carton. The material chosen forthe packet is not critical and can be chosen from a number of materialssuch as cellophane or the like.

The dispensing aperture 13 of carton 1 is advanta geously modified in asimilar carton construction when the packets to be dispensed are smallerthan the full width of the end surface 15; such modified constructionsare illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6. In FIGURE 5, the end surface 15 isprovided with a flap hinged at the lower extremity or edge 33 to form aspout 28 having attached arcuate segments 28a which may .be fabricatedfrom metal or the cardboard of surface 15. Spout 28, as shown, isunitary with end surface 15 and formed by first punching out tab 27 andthen pulling the panel 28 `from the plane of surface 15 after theperforations along the line 26 have been severed. In FIGURE 6, endsurface 15 s provided with a reclosable flap 29, hinged lat lowercxtremity or edge portion 33 and joined to surfacer15 -by bellows 29a.

The apertures 30 illustrated in FIGURES 7, 9 and 10 constitute anotheradvantageous dispensing means for the packets. These apertures areformed from a perforate ap member 30a having a width less than the widthof the end panel 15. An aperture of this construction as used in thecartons of the invention serves a double purpose. First, the lowerextremity 33 of the aperture which, is spaced upwardly from thesupporting plane of the carton serves as previously mentioned to preventcascading out of several of the packets at one time when it is normallydesired to remove only one packet. And second, the peripheral shape ofthe aperture 30 which is generally D-shaped provides the aperture withan upper structural outline forming small longitudinal strip portions 43on the end panel remaining along `the sides of the aperture when theperforate fiap member is removed. These longitudinal strips 43 functionto exert a retaining action against the packets in close proximity tothe aperture. Since the packets are of substantially the same width asthe interior of the carton the edges of the packets are caught by thestrips 43, therefore, both the lower extremity of the aperture which isupwardly spaced from` the bottom panel and also the` longitudinal strips43 cooperate in holding the remaining packets While one packet isgrasped and removed by the useLThe carton shown in centrally of the sidepanel 31 of the carton. Such an aperture is formed by a perforate apmember 36a of generally elongated rectangular form which ap member isremoved by the puncture of small perforate thumb tabs on the upper andlower parts of the perforate ap member. Conventional interlocking flapmembers are used to form the top and bottom panels of the carton. Theseiiap members designated 34 and 35 are shown on the top panel of FIGURE7. The flaps interlock to form the panel by means of double tongue andgroove inserts 70 and 71 on the aps. When the aps on the top and bottompanels are disengaged, it enables the carton to be collapsed into aattened form.

FIGURE 9 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention comprising arectangular shaped carton suitable for dispensing packets through anaperture 30 formed from a D-shaped perforate flap member in position onthe end panel 15 of the carton. Above the aperture on the carton isshown an identification marking color code 18 which is large in sizerelative to the end panel 15. This identification marking corresponds tosimilar markings on each of the interior packets within the cartonthereby enabling easy identification of the packet as it is removed fromthe carton. The closure means for the top and bottom panels 43 and 45are of the conventional type and may be, for example, interlockingflaps, liaps glued in place, etc. The cartons of FIGURE 9 areadvantageously adapted for use in a dispenser such as shown in FIGUREcontaining six cartons held in place within a metal rack 47 for thepurpose of providing, for example, a dispensing arrangement of severaldifferent diet packets. As shown, the cartons are held in place in therack by a slight compression of the metal U-shaped end members 49 of therack against the end cartons 51. The cartons are also prevented fromtipping out of place or being dislodged to the rear of the rack by a rodmeans which extends across the rear of the rack and which is connectedto the U-shaped end members 49. This means can be a non-adjustable metalrod which connects to the U-shaped end members 49 at the upper partsthereof, or it may be adjustable such as the telescoping rod means 53shown more clearly in FIGURE 11, which illustrates a detailed View ofthe rack used in the dispenser of FIGURE l0. As shown, the rack 47 hastwo upwardly extending U- shaped end members 49, which end members arepivotally mounted about the base of the rack. The base of the rack isformed of laterally extending rods 58 which are attached at each end andheld in position by the transverse rods 58a. The U-shaped end membersare connected by the rod means 53 which is pivotally mounted to the rearupper part 55 of each U-shaped end member. This rod means is of atelescopic type which can be adjusted inwardly or outwardly to therebypivot the end members about the base and thereby cause a variableadjustment of the end members on the rack to hold a variable number ofthe cartons. The rod means connecting the U-shaped members can beadjusted inwardly or outwardly by use of a small set screw 57 or anyother such means to lock the telescoping rod in any position. The metalend members 49 have suliicient flexibility such that they can be bentoutwardly a slight amount while the cartons are positioned on the rack.The end members then exert a small compressive force against the cartonsto hold the cartons in place. As shown in FIGURE 10, there are sixcartons on the rack, and each carton has an identification marking colorcode 18 on the front end panel of the carton above the aperture, whichmarking is of large size with respect to the width of the carton. Eachof the packets within a particular carton are also marked withidentication marking color codes 19 corresponding to the identificationmarking on the exterior of the carton. Such an arrangement of sixcartons is suitable for use, for example, in a hospital kitchen for thedispensing of various diet kits. For example, the iirst carton wouldobtain a packet having enclosed therein sugar, salt, pepper and napkinwhich would constitute the supplemental condiments for a regular diet.The second carton would have packets therein each containing two sugars,salt, pepper and napkin, and this would be used for a regular diet withdouble sugar. The third carton would contain packets for a bland dietwith said packets each containing sugar, salt and napkin. The fourthcarton would contain packets for use with a sugar-free diet with saidpackets containing salt, pepper, a sugar substitute and napkin. The fthcarton would contain packets for a low sodium diet, and each packetwould include sugar, pepper, a salt substitute and napkin. While thesixth carton would be used for a sugarfree low sodium diet, and eachpacket therein would con tain a salt substitute, sugar substitute,pepper and napkin. Identification markings would then be used for eachcarton combination, such as a color code on the exterior of the cartonand on each of the packets, for example, green for the regular dietpackets, blue for the regular with double sugar, pink for the bland dietpackets, yellow for the sugar-free diet packets, gray for the low sodiumdiet packets, 'and orange for the sugar-free, low sodium diet packets.Hospital personnel preparing meals would then simply go to thedispenser, check for the correct color code and remove the packet andplace it on the patients tray. Such an arrangement permits rapidpreparation of various diets in an easy manner and with a built-inmistakeproof selectivity for the various diet packets.

FIGURE l2 illustrates another carton embodiment suitable for dispensinga large number of packets such as, for example, sugar substitute packetsor salt substitute packets. The carton has a large perforate flap member60 positioned on the front end panel 15, or which could also bepositioned on the side panel 62. The flap member is generally of largeoblong shape with the widest part 63 thereof being at the centralportion of the flap. Removal of the perforate iiap enables easy ingressand egress of the carton for removal of the packets. The carton can beused in an upright position as shown or in a lengthwise position restingon the back panel generally designated 65. In its preferred form, thecarton would have conventional inter-locking flap means at the top andbottom thereof enabling the carton to be collapsed when said aps are outof engagement.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiments of theinvention disclosed are well calculated to fuliill the objects abovestated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible tomodication, variation and change without departing from the proper scope0r fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispenser combination for diet kit packets cornprising meanssecuring a plurality of dispensing cartons in side by side relationship,said means including a rack in general contact with the cartons, eachcarton containing a plurality of substantially iiat rectangular diet kitpackets, said rack comprising a rectangular base formed of a pluralityof laterally extending rods held in place by transverse rods connectedto each end of said base, and upwardly extending U-shaped end memberspivotally connected to each end of said base, rod means connected to theupper part of each end member to thereby form a lateral connectingsupport between the two end members, said rod means being at a suiicientheight above the base to prevent the cartons from tipping out of therack, and each of which cartons are similar and comprise a pair of sidepanels, a pair of end panels, and top and bottom panels, said rackacting to hold the cartons together in side by side relationship, meansdefining a dispensing aperture in at least one of said side and endpanels, said aperture having a lower edge portion defining a lowerextremity of said aperture which is upwardly spaced from the plane ofthe bottom panel on which said carton is supported, a particularidentification marking proximate to said aperture on the exterior of thepanel which contains the aperture of each said dispensing cartons, saidmarking being large in size relative to the width of said carton, andcorresponding identification marking on each of said packets within saidcartons, with each carton and the packets contained therein having theirown identitication markings which are diierent from any other in thecombination.

2. A diet kit dispenser combination comprising a plurality of dispensingcartons in side by side relationship and a plurality of substantially atrectangular packets contained Within each carton, means positioned oneach said cartons securing same in side by side relationship and actingto hold the cartons together, each of which cartons are similar andcomprise a pair of side panels, apair of end panels, and top and bottompanels, means defining a dispensing aperture in at least one of saidside and end panels, said aperture having a lower edge portion delininga lower extremity of said aperture which is upwardly spaced from theplane of the bottom panel on which said carton is supported, aparticular name and color code identiication markings proximate to saidaperture on the exterior of the panel which contains the aperture ofeach said dispensing cartons, and corresponding name and color codeidentication markings on each of said packets within said cartons, witheach carton and the packets contained therein having their ownidentification markings which are different from any other in thecombination.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 611,136 9/1898 Mason.

934,148 9/1909 Duif 211--43 1,341,893 6/1920 Fitzgerald 206'-44.12 X1,600,538 9/1926 Dollahi'. Y 1,716,628 6/1929 Gittleman 20S- 44.12 X1,956,642 5/ 1934 Einson.

2,235,473 3/1941 Blinstrub 229-20 X 2,272,524 2/1942 Johnson 2l1--181 X2,519,949 8/1950 Winton 206-44.l2 2,922,552 1/1960 Berger 20G-44.12 X

2,928,539 3/1960 Chirchiglia 206-56 3,002,651 10/1961 Gauld 206-56 XV3,160,341 12/1964 Cherney.

3,306,437 2/1967 Nelson 206-56 LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner.

2. A DIET KIT DISPENSER COMBINATION COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF DISPENSINGCARTONS IN SIDE BY SIDE RELATIONSHIP AND A PLURALITY OF SUBSTANTIALLYFLAT RECTANGULAR PACKETS CONTAINED WITHIN EACH CARTON, MEANS POSITIONEDON EACH SAID CARTONS SECURING SAME IN SIDE BY SIDE RELATIONSHIP ANDACTING TO HOLD THE CARTONS TOGETHER, EACH OF WHICH CARTONS ARE SIMILARAND COMPRISE A PAIR OF SIDE PANELS, A PAIR OF END PANELS, AND TOP ANDBOTTOM PANELS, MEANS DEFINING A DISPENSING APERTURE IN AT LEAST ONE OFSAID SIDE AND END PANELS, SAID APERTURE HAVING LOWER EDGE PORTIONDEFINING A LOWER EXTREMITY OF SAID APERTURE WHICH IS UPWARDLY SPACEDFROM THE PLANE OF THE BOTTOM PANEL ON WHICH SAID CARTON IS SUPPORTED, APARTICULAR NAME AND COLOR CODE IDENTIFICATION MARKINGS PROXIMATE TO SAIDAPERTURE ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE PANEL WHICH CONTAINS THE APERTURE OFEACH SAID DISPENSING CARTONS, AND CORRESPONDING NAME AND COLOR CODEIDENTIFICATION MARKINGS ON EACH OF SAID PACKETS WITHIN SAID CARTONS,WITH EACH CARTON AND THE PACKETS CONTAINED THEREIN HAVING THEIR OWNIDENTIFICATION MARKINGS WHICH ARE DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER IN THECOMBINATION.